Direction indicator



Dec. 29, 1931. ISCHEPPERLE 1,838,789

DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed April '24, 1950 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITEDSTATES P EN or mcs GOTTLOB SOHEPPERLE, F TonoN'ro, 'on'rnmo, criminalDIRECTION mn-Ion'roa' Application filed April 24,

The invention relates to improvements in direction indicators asdescribed in the present specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings which form part of the same. I

The invention has for its object the provision of a compact indicatorfor signalling a right or left hand turn contemplated by the driver ofan automobile.

According to this invention a lamp casing is divided into three separatecompartments each providedwith its own source of illumination controlledby a switch, Two of the compartments are constructed to display signalsin the form of arrow heads, while the intermediate compartment displaysa shaft of the arrow. By this arrangement the shaft forms an arrow witheither of the arrow heads so that by illuminating the shaft and theright hand arrow head a turn in that direction is indicated, andcontrariwise through illumination of the left-hand arrow head. The shaftcompartment may be continuously lit or otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa'lampconstructed accord. ing to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a face view thereof outlining the compartments.

Figure 3 is a similar view depicting the ar row signal produced by theleft-hand and the intermediate compartments.

Figure 4:IS also a similar view but depicts the arrow signal produced bythe right hand and the intermediate compartments.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1. V

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the elements that form thecompartments and the glass faces. In this view these parts are showndetached in order to display them to better advantage.

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 6, but shows a slightly modifiedform of the invention. v

. Figure 9 is a face view of the modification showing how the glass isblocked out.

Like'numerals of reference indicate corre- 1930. Serial "No. 446,377.

sponding partsin each of the figures through out the drawings.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally denotes the lampwhich is prefer ably provided with a front glass 11 and a rear. 55 glass12in order to displaythe signals to traflicboth in front and at the rearof the'mo tor vehicle towhich it is attached. The glass faces maybemountedrin the casing 13 by retaining ringsl t as customary. It isdesirable cc to employ a translucent colouredglass, such as red, fordisplaying the signals.- 1

Each glass has a portion of its surface rendered opaque, such as bypainting on .its'sides, in order to define a square-shaped translucentc5 areai15 which is disposed with its corners intersecting'horizontal.and vertical lines,,see Figure 7. The adjacent sides '16, 16 constitutea part of the righthand arrow head,

whilethe supplemental sides 17, 17 .'consti- 7Q tutea part of the lefthand arrowhead.

18- is an element fordividing the interior. of-the casing into: threecompartments 19, 20, and 21. This elem'entis made-of sheetmetal andvertically disposed within the casing. 75. The intermediatecompartment20 COIlSlStSzOf a horizontal 'oblongdivision illuminated by an electriclight 22. The compartments 19. and21 are illuminated byelectric lights23 and 24 respectively. Each light has a sep- 80 arate circuitcontrolled by a switch disposed onthe-steering wheel'ofthe vehicle orotherwi'se conveniently located. 1 "Theelement 18 has its side portions25, 25

and 26,26 inclining inwardly from the ends 8 v of the oblong 20 on anangle of 451 to vettical top and bottom portions 27 and 28. The inclinedportions extend parallel with the sides 16 and 16and 17 7 1.7 of thetranslucent area 150i the glasses 11 and I2; and being of lesserdimensions thus defined therewith two arrow heads 29, 29 on saidtranslucent square 15 of each glass. It is to be understood of coursethat the element 18 extends from the inner surface of one glass to the,5; surface of the other glass, as seen in Figure 5. The element may beheld in place by its disposition between two semi-circular retainers 30having end flanges 31.

In practice, the'inte'rmediate compartment 99 20 may be continuouslylit, or it could be utilized as a stop signal in addition to cooperatingwith the other compartments to signal contemplated turning movements.

It will be apparent that when this intermediate compartment isilluminated simultaneously with the compartment 19 the one willsupplement the other to display an arrow, thus indicating a right handturn as shown in Figure 4. Likewise, when the compartment 21 issimultaneously illuminated in conjunction with the intermediatecompartment 20 a left hand turn will be indicated.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, the only difference hereis that the element 18 dispenses with the two horizontal divisions thatcompose the oblong compartment 20. This provides a much largerintermediate compartment, as at 32; In this instance it is necessary toblock out the glasses so as to define the two arrow heads 33, 34 joinedby a shaft 35see Figure 9. It will be manifest that other slightstructural changes may be made in the design of the compartments withoutaffecting the invention: For instance, the two compartments 19 and 21could be shaped in the form of arrow heads and a plain translucent glassused. Moreover, if so desired, the casing could be made square ordiamond shaped with a view to conforming generally to the outline ofboth arrow heads; this, however, does not depart from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim is The combination in a direction indicator of the classdescribed, of a casing open at its front and rear, translucent membersclosing the front and rear thereof, a hollow element vertically andloosely fitted within the casing between said translucent members, theinterior of said hollow element constituting a signal compartmentcomplementary to either of the compartments that are formed on each sidethereof, the top and bottom portions of said hollow element beingreduced in width and having abutting contact with said casing, andretainers loosely disposed within said casing one upon each side of thehollow element, said retainers contacting with the casing and havingtheir ends abutting the top and bottom portions of the hollow element tolaterally restrain the same.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the 14th day of April, 1930.

GOTTLOB SCHEPPERLE.

